The long road back.

I'm inspired to write about my journey back into the world of theatre because of this post on The Guardian's Theatre Blog. Though my story doesn't involve the loss that hers does, but I connect with that journey back to that thing I love, the theatre.

So I went to college for theatre. I focused on theatre for about 12 hours a day 5 days a week. My weekends in college were spent working to support myself while I went to school. It was difficult, it was heartbreaking and most of all it was wonderful. I loved every minute of it, even if the only days I ever had off were during the summer.

My senior year was super full, though I never seemed to be in class. I directed the first semester and the second semester I was juggling 2 internships.

One at the Intiman Theatre as assistant to the director on Rounding Third by Richard Dresser under the incredibly talented BJ Jones, Artistic Director of the Northlight Theatre in Chicago. An amazing experience working with BJ, he's kind, caring, supportive and has a true love for what he does. He also gave me my copy of Anne Bogart's A Director Prepares, a book that I reread every time I even think about directing a show.

Another one is where I got bit by the marketing bug. I don't really know where my passion for marketing came from, but I think when I was the PR/Marketing Intern at On the Boards (OtB) I suffered a flesh wound. What more could I want? A place to play with my ideas about marketing, learn more about DIY marketing, editing, proofing, designing, web site management, using social networking/blogs to support the arts and to top it all off, the BEST venue for expiremental performance I've ever been to. The highest quality artists perform there. I also discovered my appreciation for dance there. An artform I love to enjoy as a spectator and one that I learn from as a director.

So senior year was busy for me...

I graduated that May and started working at a vet hospital, still continued at OtB one day a week and spent the other 6 at the hospital. Boy did I become worn out and fast. I couldn't even think about doing theatre, I was done. Not done permanently by any means, but done for now. I need "a break" and so I took one.

It was a long journey back, after distracting myself for just under a year. I yearned for what I used to do every day and honestly my life seemed a little empty without. Then finally 2 years and some change after graduating, I finally worked up the nerve to do an audition.

Little did I know I picked a piece from a show that had just been done a few months prior to rave reviews. Way to check on whats going on in the local scene and how that affects an audition piece... Oh well! Learning experience.

I didn't get call backs, whatever. So I saw a posting for a paid stage manager gig and I emailed. Well the paying gig had been taken, but they had an opening for a different show. Actually it was a show that I had seen an audition listing for and had considered auditioning for, but talked myself out of it. I took the non-paying gig and it has snowballed into a lot of other work.

Needless to say I'm happy again. I have my outlet and now that I'm directing I'm redefining my voice as a director again.

So thanks to the people I've worked with so far and thanks to all those I will work with.
I learn from all of you.

What do you learn from?